combine, which sold a week later, was a 2012 S660 with 1,493
separator hours that brought $95,500.
At 543 hp., the S690 offered far more capacity than
the S660 at 320 hp., but demand dictated price. The S690
was oversized for the crowd at the first auction (held by
Wieman Auction in South Dakota), while the S660 was
ideal for several buyers at the second auction in Illinois
(held by Sullivan Auctioneers).
Prices in a buyer’s market tend to be more volatile, which
opens up opportunities to get a good buy on a down day at
auction. Dealer asking prices, on the other hand, are more
stable in either a buyer’s or seller’s market, as dealers set their
values on nationwide averages (as listed by Iron Solutions).
An imminent harvest will shore up values this month,
and stronger commodity prices from an August price rally
(a possibility, though often not a reality at this time of year)
could put a hard floor on harvester values.
J
ust how soft are
prices on used com-
bines? That depends
what you’re looking
for. Take the exam-
ple of two 2012 combines
in excellent condition that
sold at auction late this past
winter.
Inventories of late-model Deere
combines are still in ample supply
on dealers’ lots, indicating a
potential summer sell-off.
SEARCHING FOR THE DEALS
IN A BUYER’S MARKET
PRICES FOR LATE-MODEL COMBINES HAVE BEEN
VOLATILE BUT WILL SHORE UP THIS MONTH.
Photography: Dave Mowitz
m a c h
INSIDER
By Dave Mowitz, Executive Editor, Machinery ª
inery
August 2019 | Successful Farming at Agriculture.com 25
Both combines were
equipped similarly with
duals, premium cabs,
power folding grain tanks,
contour feeder house, etc.
The first combine was a
2012 Deere S690 with 1,586
separator hours. It sold
for $90,000. The second
ASKING PRICES AND HOURS
ON 12 YEARS OF CLASS SEVEN
JOHN DEERE COMBINES
2018 S770 (167 available)
Average dealer price: $347,380
Price range: $264,500 to $535,400
Average sep. hours: 339 hrs.
Sep. hours range: 62 to 478 hrs.
2015 S670 (160 available)
Average dealer price: $221,200
Price range: $142,000 to $289,900
Average sep. hours: 953 hrs.
Sep. hours range: 311 to 2,741 hrs.
2012 S670 (148 available)
Average dealer price: $158,400
Price range: $107,500 to $249,900
Average sep. hours: 1,397 hrs.
Sep. hours range: 491 to 2,696 hrs.
2009 9770STS (64 available)
Average dealer price: $108,750
Price range: $85,100 to $183,500
Average sep. hours: 1,822 hrs.
Sep. hours range: 728 to 3,675 hrs.
2006 9760STS (35 available)
Average dealer price: $71,300
Price range: $59,000 to $87,300
Average sep. hours: 2,420 hrs.
Sep. hours range: 1,553 to 3,665 hrs.
